Apparatus for filling molds



Oct, 24, 1939; PARCELL 2,177,375

APPARATUS FOR FILLING MOLDS Filed June 4, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Lg I ljmezoiezf mand Paar-Cell @447 210656,; ifM

Oct. 24, 1939. R. PARCELL APPARATUS FOR FILLING MOLDS Filed June 4, 19382 Sheets-Sheet 2 [zaz/em 3&1? Egmmd PZr'ceZZ i ATEN'i OFFICE APPARATUSFOR FILLING MOLDS Raymond Pare-oil, Fredericksburg, Va., assignor toPrecision Metal Workers, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application June 4, 1938, Serial No. 211,714

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for filling molds and isparticularly adapted for the filling of molds with liquid so that asubstantially uniform quantity of liquid may be provided in the molds.

The invention is particularly adaptable to the manufacture of frozenconfections of known kinds, which are manufactured and sold with andwithout handles.

According to the present invention an approximate charge is supplied toeach mold and thereafter the excess over a certain amount is displacedand the displaced excess is removed. The displacement of excess maysuitably be per formed by introducing a displacing member of such volumethat a part of the rough charge is displaced, leaving a predeterminedamount of liquid in the mold. Means are provided on the displacementmember so that its entry into the mold is limited to a definite extent.

For the specific purpose above mentioned, that is, the manufacture offrozen confections, it is usual to employ a multiple mold, that is, ametal tray from which depends a large number of mold pockets of uniformsize. When operating with such molds it is preferred to supply a chargeto each of the pockets which is definitely greater than the volumeintended to be frozen. The displacement members, one for each pocket,are preferably mounted on a single unit, which may suitably be a platefrom which the displacement members depend. It will, of course, beunderstood that the displacement members are rela tively located in thesame manner as are the mold pockets, so that one displacement memberenters each pocket.

I provide means whereby the displacement members have only a limitedentry into the pockets, such means comprising complementary con- 40tacting elements on the displacement member unit and on the mold tray.In order to facilitate removal of the excess displaced from the moldpockets, I prefer to mount the mold tray at a definite'angle so that theexcess flows to one side '45 thereof. At this side I have mounted on thedisplacement member unit a suction nozzle, which is connected to asuitable pump or other ejecting mechanism, which withdraws the excessliquid and returns it to the supply tank.

The invention will readily be understood from the following descriptionof a preferred apparatus and method of filling the molds, with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

55 Figure 1 is a front view of an apparatus adapted for the filling of aplurality of trays, each comprising a large number of mold pockets;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.1, and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the *5 displace-member andexcess withdrawal elements in operation relation.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral it! designates a standwhich supports a table surface I I which is sloped in the manner shownin Figs. 2 and 3. Along its lower end the table surface H is providedwith a stop l2 which is adapted to be engaged by the sub-structures itof mold trays [4. The mold tray I4, which may be of known type,comprises an upper tray portion l5 from which depends a plurality ofpockets l6 arranged in uniform rows. The tray 14 is provided withhandles 11 whereby it may be conveniently handled and moved from placeto place. lhe frame i6 is provided with an upward extension I8 whichcarries a supply tank 19. This tank may be replenished from a suitablesource of supply by means of a pipe 29. From a low point in the tank l9extends a pipe 2! which is provided with a valve 22. From the pipe 29extends a hose 23 which may suitably be a flexible stainless steel hoseof known type.

The stand serves as a support for a motor 25 and a pump 25, theseelements being suitably located below the table surface I I. The outletof the pump 25 is connected to a discharge pipe 28 which returns thematerial passing through the pump to the supply tank 9. The inlet of thepump 25 is connected by a flexible hose 21, suitably a flexiblestainless steel pipe, to a nozzle 23. This nozzle is rigidly mounted ona displacement unit 29 which will now be described.

The displacement unit 29 may suitably comprise a plate 30 which carrieson its upper side a handle 31. On its under side the plate 33 carries alarge number of similar displacement members 32 which correspond innumber and relative location to the pockets of the mold tray. Thus, inthe mold tray shown in the drawings there are four longitudinal rows ofpockets, each row comprising six mold pockets. The displacement membersare similarly arranged on the plate 3%, the spacing between the centersof the displacement members being similar to the spacing of the moldpockets.

As shown in the drawings, the mold members 32 are of substantial volume,but are smaller than the pockets so that they may readily enterthereinto. Means are provided whereby the extent to which thedisplacement members 32 may enter the mold pockets is definitelylimited. These means may take the form of elements on the mold tray andon the displacement unit which are adapted to engage when thedisplacement unit is in proper displacing relation to the mold tray.Thus, the plate 30 may be provided with a suitable number of abutments33 which are adapted to engage the bottom of the tray portion of themold, that is, the portion of the tray between adjacent mold pockets.The nozzle 28 is mounted adjacent one end of the plate 30 and that endis always applied toa mold so that it is located at the lowest end ofthe mold, as shown in Fig. 3.

In one manner of operating according to the invention, I place aplurality, for example five, mold trays [4 on the table top H. Ithenopen the valve 22 and permit liquid to flow from the tank l9 throughthe hose 23. By means of this hose all the pockets of a tray are filledin the manner shown in Fig. 2. As shown in that figure there is usuallyan excess of liquid at the pockets adjacent the right-hand or lowermostside. The other pockets are almost full, being slightly less than fullonly because the mold tray is located on the sloping table top H. Whenthe tray is filled in this manner, the displacement unit 29 is appliedthereto in the manner shown in Fig.

3, the displacement members 32 entering the.

pockets l6 and displacing a certain amount of liquid therefrom. When thedisplacement unit is thus located in the metal tray [4, the suctionnozzle 28 is immersed in the excess liquid at the lower end of the trayM and the pump 25 promptly removes this excess and returns it to thetank l9. When the excess liquid is thus removed, each of the pockets I 6contains a substantially equal amount of liquid. The displacement member29 is then transferred to another mold tray [4 which has, in themeantime been charged.

It will, of course, be understood that the procedure may be modified inmany respects. Thus, the mold trays may be charged elsewhere, forexample, on a level table, sufiicient liquid being introduced to fillall the pockets l6 and leave a certain small excess above the pockets.The mold trays are then preferably, though not necessarily, tilted, thedisplacement unit 29 inserted, and the excess removed by the pump 25.

It will, of course, be understood that after the mold trays are chargedin the manner described, they are removed to suitable locations wherethey are subjected to freezing tempera- -ture or are otherwise treatedin accordance with the liquid being treated and the product desired.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with thespecific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must beunderstood that such details are not intended to be limitative of theinvention except in so far as .7

set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Apparatus for filling the pockets of a mold including a tray and aplurality of pockets depending therefrom, comprising a displacementmember having bodies adapted to extend into the pockets to displaceliquid therefrom, and suction means carried by said member andterminating within said tray for removing surplus liquid displaced intosaid tray.

2. Apparatus for filling the pockets of a mold including a tray and aplurality of pockets depending therefrom, with equal quantities ofliquid comprising a displacement member having displacement bodiessimilar in number and location to the pockets, means for limiting theentrance of said bodies into said pockets to a similar extent, and asuction nozzle carried by said member and adapted to extend into saidtray for removing from the mold tray surplus liquid displaced from thepockets into said tray.

3. Apparatus for filling the pockets of a multipocket mold with equalquantities of liquid comprising a displacement member havingdisplacement bodies similar in number and location to the pockets, meansfor limiting the entrance of said bodies into said pockets to a similarextent, a suction nozzle carried by said member for removing from themold surplus liquid displaced from the pockets, and means for supportingsaid mold at an angle whereby the displaced liquid may flow downwardlyto said nozzle.

4. Apparatus for equally filling the pockets of a multi-pocket moldincluding a dish portion and a plurality of similar pockets dependingtherefrom, comprising a displacement member substantially coextensivewith said dish portion and havingdisplacement bodies similar in numherand location to the pockets, means on said member and dish portionadapted to engage and limit the entrance of said bodies into saidpockets to a similar extent, and a suction nozzle carried by said memberfor removing from the dish portion surplus liquid displaced from thepockets.

5. Apparatus for equally filling the pockets of a multi-pocket moldincluding a dish portion and a plurality of similar pockets dependingtherefrom, comprising a displacement member substantially coextensivewith said dish portion and having displacement bodies similar in numberand location to'the pockets, means on said member and dish portionadapted to engage and limit the entrance of said bodies into saidpockets to a similar extent, a suction nozzle carried by said member forremoving from the dish portion surplus liquiddisplaced from the pockets,and an inclined supporting table for supporting said mold at an anglewhereby said displaced liquid may flow downwardly to said nozzle.

6. In combination, an inclined table adapted to support at an angle amulti-pocket mold including a dish portion and a plurality of similarpockets depending therefrom, a supply tank above said table, means forsupplying liquid from the tank to said pockets, a displacement membersubstantially coextensive with said dish portion and having displacementbodies similar in number and location to the pockets, means on saidmember and said dish portion adapted to engage and limit the entrance ofsaid bodies into said pockets to asimilar extent, a'nozzle on the lowerside 'of said member projecting downwardly into said dish portion, apump, flexible conduit means connecting the intake of the pump to saidnozzle, and conduit means connecting the outlet of said pump tothesupply tank. RAYMOND PARCELL.

